Pentax has had a fairly busy week this week. While other manufacturers would be content to release four new compacts, Pentax has gone a step further to release a new dSLR and a new medium-telephoto lens. Here are the details of the new K10D and the smc DA 70mm F2.4 Limited.
Pentax K10D
The K100D and K110D have only been out four months but already there has been an update to the series - the K10D. The immediate changes are in the sensor, MP levels have jumped to 10.2 from 6.1 and there is a new PRIME image processor to match. This is for well-balanced images in terms of sharpness, white balance etc and to speed up the process of capturing and recording. A new 22bit Analogue to Digital converter has also been developed for image conversion, which should give truer results than its 12bit competition. These were both developed exclusively for the Pentax K10D.
Like the K100D before it, the K10D has a built-in Shake Reduction system that can compensate for up to four shutter stips and limits the need for more expensive anti-shake lenses. The camera has been designed for use with Pentax K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2- lens mounts but it can use older screw-mounts, 645 and 67 system lenses with adaptors. A new Dust Removal system has been introduced to stop dust form sticking to the CCD when you change lenses - and it is quite technical. First a fluorine vapour-based coating (Pentax Special Protect) is on the lens to remove dust and stains, and any excess dust is vibrated off to fall onto a sticky adhesive sheet so it doesn't blow back up. The rest of the K10D is dust-proof and the camera also has water resistant claims - 72 parts of the camera like the shutter release have been sealed. While it won't protect your camera if you drop it in the sea photo-ing dolphins, it will protect it from the rain.
The camera has a whole host of modes. As you would expect, the camera can shoot in JPEG and RAW (even both at the same time) and Pentax's own PEF format. It has a “Hyper Program” function for easy selection of Priority modes and also contains two unique modes. Shutter and Aperture Priority sets the appropriate sensitivity to your selections and the Sensitivity Priority does the reverse, with quick changes made possible through the dedicated electronic dial, up to a maximum ISO of 1600. This is quite a development as the PASM system has been around for a long while but changing sensitivity like this hasn't really been brought into this level of consideration - and it will be interesting if it catches on.
Other features include either digital or optical preview, 16 segment AE and 11 point AF - the in-focus point being highlighted in red. An exclusive Battery Grip (D-BG2) is to be released too.
The camera will be released in November, but no UK price details have been released. It is $899.95 just for the body and with a 18-55mm lens for $999.95 in the US, but remember that prices here are usually more than they are at the current exchange rate.
Specification >>
smc Pentax DA 70mm F2.4 Limited
This medium-telephoto lens has been designed exclusively for use with Pentax digital SLRs like the K10D and is an ultra-thin “pancake” design measuring just 26mm long. The lens is useful for both portraiture and landscape with a focal length of equivalent 107mm. A lens like this is rare, not just because of its appearance but also because of its speed. F2.4 is incredibly fast and are usually very expensive, and it will retail for $600 in the US. SP coating on the front of the lens prevents dust and grease build-up and the lens has the Limited lens styling to mark its professional qualities. Again it will be released in November. Specification >>
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